The goal of the projects:

Research in the intestinal disease unit located at Åbo Akademi University is focused on the roles and regulation of keratin intermediate filaments in gastrointestinal epithelia including the colon, small intestine, liver, as well as the endo- and exocrine pancreas. Keratins are cytoskeletal structures important in protection from cellular stress. Keratin mutations predispose humans to diseases, including liver disease and possibly inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The keratin (K)8 knockout mouse obtains an early IBD/ulcerative colitis-phenotype. Our aims are to understand how keratins help protect simple type epithelia on a molecular level, in particular in gastrointestinal organs with focus on intestine and the endocrine pancreas. Using the K8 heterozygous and knockout mice, mice expressing keratin mutations, experimental models of colitis, colorectal cancer, diabetes, and cell systems, we study the role of keratins in e.g. stress, ion transport, protein and organelle targeting, cell proliferation and differentiation, colonocyte energy metabolism, cancer, regeneration and diabetes. We also aim to develop imaging modalieis to detect IBD in mice in vivo, and use nanomaterials to target drugs intestinal tissues. Webpage for the Epithelial biology laboratory at Åbo Akademi University: www.toivola-lab.org